Jagriti Yatra is an ambitious train journey of discovery and transformation that takes hundreds of India's highly motivated youth, especially those who are from small towns and villages of India, on a 15 day, 8000 km national odyssey to meet the role models - social and business entrepreneurs - of the country with a vision of  'building India through enterprise'. 

I was delighted to have received this wonderful opportunity to explore this beauty of nature. Now, if you are wondering or imagining this train journey the same as that of any tourist endeavor then this write up would flip your view upside down.

Now that we all have to lock ourselves in, we're still having the leverage to jump across the boundaries within our minds.

So let’s dive in… Yaaron Chalon!

Its been more than 6 months for me having set out for this extravagant journey but it still lingers on my mind as if it was yesterday. I used to get goosebumps while singing the anthem 

''Yaaron Chalon ...Badalne ki rut hein...''

which always left me with amazing energy and refreshed mind.

You will come across a lot many crazy yet virtuous things in this entire journey. The first and foremost crazy chunk about Jagriti Yatra is none other than the Yatris! 

Diversity: 

A cult of 450 random people from almost all parts of the country and across the borders, from an extremely diversified field of study, varied lifestyles, unique professional backgrounds, Entrepreneurs, storytellers, Colonel, activist, innovators, enthusiasts from all walks of life come along together taking up 15 days off from their routine life and letting themselves free into this exploration.(We also have a large chunk of people who either left their jobs before or after yatra!)

Perspective:

It’s quiet rightly said by those who were once a Yatri that "Yatra is a pragmatic adventure, you come with some idea or learning, you unlearn and relearn instead of being taught!"

Each one of us comes with some or the other expectation in our minds but must say we take back a colossal amount of experiences with us. I think each one of us have seen a change in perception to look at the problems and the tings around us. The solution oriented thinking is what the role model  visits imbibed within us.

Getting along:

We boarded our train, PS I call it OUR Train! Yet, another crazy feel. The entire Train comprised of 11 boogies by Ministry of Railways is dedicated to JY called as a special train!

It was 2 am in the night on Mumbai CST, after a day-long orientation at TISS we were half sleepy yet excited to board the train!

With a warm welcome on CST backyards with a beautiful and enormous rangoli, we at our first day started singing qawwali carefree manner folding our laps and sitting on the platform waiting for the train to arrive.

Finally after the much anticipated moment of we stepping into our train which was our home for the next 15 days arrived.

Leaving comfort zone:

Many of the yatris were of the kind who were traveling on a train for the first time. I being from Mumbai was used to locals but would still say this experience was pretty naive for me too.

In the train we had Swadesh song played as wake up call, early morning for 30 minutes in which we had to get ourselves ready for the day! It was for the first time that we bathed on a running train that too managing hair bath in a bucket of water!

As we move along starting from humid weather in Mumbai en routing the southern destinations and then climbing up to chilling North till Delhi and a night stay at Deoria, the rapidly changing weather is itself a challenge!

Self Reflection

We had this interesting activity name Lifeline activity which is done within our cohorts, where you start your journey by looking back and charting your ups and down on a chart paper and expressing your story to your fellow group members! This brings a drastic change in view and deep connecting vibes which you could only experience once you go on yatra!

The ERC team is constantly working to curate every single day of yatra to be planned at its best.We used to get an apt amount of me-time where we could retrospect our day and do journaling or just keep thinking and absorbing the emotions.It was one of the best practice which brings in more value to your yatra.

My dream moments

At the very first destination which was Kalkeri Sangeet Vidyalaya (KSV) where the amazing kids who were visharads in multiple instruments. The kids taught me my much-loved instrument Sitar! It was like a dream moment and while listening to their riyaz it was not less than a paradise experience!Those talented kids who hail from a rural village Dharwad were groomed so well that it left us speechless.

Another instance was the surprise visit to the pride of our nation ISRO Headquarters at Sriharikota. One can't express what it is like to land on the platform where records are set and brightest minds envisage their dreams.

Next, role model visit for which I was much excited was Akshay Patra, Asia's largest kitchen!  Also to Nalanda University the most ancient educational institute that once had a library of over 9 million books.  

Later, on the new year's eve, we had the most beautiful and extraordinary celebration with the kids at Gram Vikas, we spent the entire evening singing, dancing, playing with kids who later bid adieu shaking hands in numbers. That moment was no less than a red carpet walk with loads of love and affection, the dusty pavement looked like golden stardust with a shining smiley face.

Another crazy moment was one over the station’s platform! The platform was beautifully stacked with balloons and DJ lights, sounds and a huge Cake. It was absurd and beyond imagination!

Meeting up and Networking

As mentioned there is no doubt you have an open ground here to network. You can go anywhere and just break the ice starting with ''Hey, What’s your name?'' and the person introduces you in brief with what sets them apart. After a few days, we were so used to say the same lines so often as if its a tag line and we are a brand.

Its quiet impossible for anyone to know each of the 450 yatris but I would say one must surely connect with the Resource Persons who are experts in their field and has an amazing knowledge base for you to help.

I managed to personally interact with only about 150 yatris over the days and must say every person was different and unique in itself.

I also met a few of my college Alumnus which was a cherry on the top!

Portrait your skills:

This is an open stage for every kind of skill within you. You can perform whatever you want in front of these many fellows which boosts your confidence and motivates your inner self. You also present a B Plan with no laptop and power point, it’s your creative efforts which convey your idea, we painted charts used clips and threads to hang them up decorated the boogie and splashed the presentation on a moving train! 

There is so much more just to experience, collaborate, work on new ideas having a number of discussions in the AC Chair cart which I personally miss a lot, those heated discussion  we had   late night with the like-minded people was explicit!

I would recommend going on such an adventure at least once, for me it was an amazing exposure and memorable journey! Go with an open mind and be yourself, appreciate the diversity. Thanks to all the yatris, especially my wonderful cohort plus facilitators and the entire team!